Corner To Corner Crochet (C2C)

Corner to corner crochet (called C2C) is a simple way to crochet once you get the hang of it. All you need to know is how to chain, how to make double crochets and how to slip stitch. You will notice that C2C crocheting has more holes in a project but it looks very beautiful.

Step one:
To start any C2C project you need to start with a chain of 6 stitches. (A How To Post on that is available here). Below is what a chain of 6 looks like.

Step two:

To start the "box" you need to work a double crochet into the fourth stitch from the hook (or third from the beginning). Make a double crochet in the next two stitches so that the row is finished. 

This is what the first box looks like.

Step three:

To start a new row of boxes, chain another six and repeat the process of double crochets into the three lowest stitches. Now you should have two boxes. To attach them together, turn your work so that the boxes look like the picture below. 

To attach the boxes, place your hook between the chain and the double crochets of the bottom box and slip stitch. 

Step four:

Each row needs an added box to continue growing. To do this chain three and in the same space you slip stitched, and place three double crochets. With this row only having two boxes this is the end of the row.  To create the next row again you need to chain and follow the same steps until the end of the row. Continue this until the size of the box has been met. 

Corner to corner projects will always be a perfect square. (Keep this in mind when deciding on the size of a pattern - example I use 20 x 20 to make pillow coverings. The best way to measure is by placing the first half against what you want to cover.)

Finishing the Project:

Once you have the size you want, you need to create the other half of the C2C. You do this in a decrease this time, each row losing a box. 

To start the decrease, you need to flip your work. You will notice the box you just finished has three stitches. You want to skip the first and then do a slip stitch into the other two stitches. Now you will be back where the chain started the last box. You want to slip stitch into that gap, and then continue like it was a normal box, chaining three and then placing three double crochets into the gap you just slipped stitched into.

The process of increasing and decreasing is very similar. To increase, chain six to create the next box, to decrease you slip stitch. Then the process is the same. Below is what the finished product should look like.

This is a 23 x 23 square. I am using it for a pillow covering, for a blanket you have two options you can make multiple squares and sew them together or make just one large panel. 

Super Mario 3 Mushrooms (Half Double Crochet)

Believe it or not the Mario Mushrooms change in each game! So it is very important to get the right graph for the right mushroom. I was very lucky I grew up with Mario so I knew the difference right away, so if you are crocheting this for a true die hard gamer, you will want to know the difference because they will appreciate the accuracy.

These are mushrooms from the first two Super Mario Games (2 on the left and 1 on the right) Below is what the Super Mario 3 mushrooms look like. 

These are the mushrooms we want! I have seen a few patterns online so I created my own from them and followed it to make the mushrooms. As you can see and may already know there is the red mushroom, that makes Mario grow in size, and there is the green mushroom that gives an extra life. But there is also another colour for these mushrooms. When Mario gets a mushroom to add to his inventory the mushroom is the colour of the inventory with black spots. Since I want to make the mushroom stand out I am going to make it black with white spots. (White with black spots would stand out too). So in total, we will be crocheting three Mario mushrooms. (One red, one green and one black). If you wish to add more of them to the seen by all means do so. 

I drew this graph myself. As you can see at the top, this graph is 20 stitches by 20 stitches. This mushroom will more than likely be up in the air, so the background should be whatever colour you choose for the sky. 

Colours:

Red Mushroom:

Cherry Red (any red will do though as long as it is not too dark)

Black

White

Sky Colour (I used Aqua)

Green Mushroom:

Green (I used Grass)

Black 

White

Sky Colour (Aqua)

Black Mushroom:

Black

White

Inventory Colour (I used Rose)

Hook Size: 4.5 mm

** I used Impeccable yarn but any yarn is fine **

3 in 1 Household Crochet Project

I found this project when I had left over yarn from another project and I didn't know what to do with it. This yarn is like nylon, kind of stretchy like elastic and it is very soft. I used it to make a pair of flipflops and then had a whole ball left! The paper suggested to make a rug out of it or a t-shirt but I found, following their pattern made the yarn twist. The more rows I added the worse it became so I gave up and figured I would be suck with this yarn forever. Until I saw scrubbies on a Facebook group. This inspired me.



I started off making round coasters out of this first. Then I figured out of you make two coasters and sew them together you get a dish scrubby. And finally, if you keep adding rows you get a pot holder!


Circle Coasters
I started with a Magic Ring, and crocheted 12 double crochets into the ring. Once I had the ring, I chained two and crocheted two double crochets into each stitch. The reason I did this, not only to grow it but also because I found the yarn curls if you do not grow it in each turn.

The magic ring, plus one round is perfect for a coaster. Once you have joined the round with a slip stitch, cut the yarn (giving a lot of slack before hand), and pull the end through the final stitch. Create a knot as close to the coaster as possible with both ends before cutting the extra off. 

Pot and Pan Scrubby

To make the scrubbies, you need to first crochet two coaster (directions above). Once you have the two coasters, take the same type of yarn you are using give yourself a lot of slack and cut. At two knots to the end of your yarn and threat a needle with it. Use this yarn and needle to sew the two pieces together using the each stitch. 

Once the full circle is done, sew in the end and cut any excess off. 

Pot Holder:
Once you get the hang of working in the round, simply continue (chain two and make two double crochets in each stitch) until you have the size you would like. Finish the project off the same way you would for the coasters.

Magic Ring

A Magic Ring is usually called for when working in the round. This is usually for slippers, hats, socks, that type of thing. And often for anything circular. It is very easy to do however it does take some practice.

Step one:
You want to start a magic ring the same way you would any crocheting project, expect you do not want to pull the yarn tight to a knot. As you can see in the picture below if you would pull the loop tight you would get a knot, instead you want to place your hook there and chain two. For Magic Rings, you can use half double or double crochets depending on the project. Now you want to yarn over and treat the loop like any stitch, go through the loop, yarn over again and bring it back to the starting side. At this point you will finish your stitch like normal.

Step two:

My magic number is usually 12. I crochet ten hdc or dc into the ring and then pull the hanging tail to tighten the right. Then I crochet my last two into the tight ring, this sometimes causes it to loosen but you just need to pull it tight again. 

Step three:

To finish the round, slip stitch into the first stitch that started the round (the chain). To continue the project you will want to chain two and start crocheting into the stitch you crocheted up from and then each stitch after it. 

Baby Blocks Crochet Quilt

There is no creator listed to credit with this blanket but it is very nice. It says for baby but by simply adding more squares it would make a great blanket for an adult also, or a wedding gift in the right colours. The pattern is free here.

Caron International's Majestic Butterfly Afghan by Susan Lowman

This afghan is very beautiful and is a great gift for anyone who loves the outdoors. The pattern is free here, it works in single crochet  with Caron Simply Soft medium (worsted) weight acrylic yarn and the finished size is 50 1/2 by 66 inches.

Karen Buhr's Around the World Crochet Quilt CAL

The pattern for the quilt is available here for free. It's a very colourful blanket made of granny squares; it looks beautiful and it is very simple to make.